Oslo in Norway experiencing record-breaking rain

Oslo was hit by torrential rainfall Thursday, smashing all historical records as 44.5mm of rain fell in just one hour, from 4–5 p.m. The city center saw a traffic gridlock as the water streamed in the streets.

Oslo in Norway was hit by record-breaking torrential rains on June 26, 2014

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In some areas, hailstorms caused a rare layer of ice on the summer roads.

Previously the highest rainfall recorded in Oslo was experienced back in 1980, when the city received 41.5mm of rain in just one hour during summer.

Flood warnings were sent out on Thursday across eastern Norway by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE). Friday will see similar warning sent to Agder, Telemark and Buskerud for the weekend.

While warnings have been issued, Thomas Væringstad of the Directorate told NRK that meteorologists are still not sure where the next deluge could fall.

"There will be unstable weather in Norway today just like yesterday and tomorrow the rain will come to Agder, Telemark and Buskerud, but we are uncertain of the exact location so we are waiting for the next forecast from meteorologists."

After the torrents subsided, Marit Helene Jensen told the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten that it seemed like they had received almost one month's rainfall in three hours.

On top of the problems caused by rain and hail, reportedly lightning strikes have caused forest fires in areas surrounding Oslo and could have been the cause of a fire that broke out in an old wooden house in Oslo's upmarket Majorstuen area. The fire caused the evacuation for safety of 40 residents in the area.